# Brain substrates for cardiovascular stress physiology

> **NIH NIH K01** · BAYLOR UNIVERSITY · 2020 · $152,186

## Abstract

Project Summary/Abstract
The candidate’s long-term goal is to become an independent investigator focused on the neurophysiological pathways that
link psychological stress with cardiovascular disease (CVD). Individual differences in biological responses to acute
psychological stress have been shown to predict risk for subclinical and clinical markers of CVD, indicating that variation
in the stress response relates to measurable health outcomes. The proposed research and career development program will
position the candidate to definitively address open and mechanistic questions on cardiovascular stress physiology with a
multi-dimensional approach. The overall objective of the current project is to identify the ‘brain–cardiovascular’ pathways
of metabolically excessive cardiovascular responses to stress. The central hypothesis is that metabolically excessive
cardiovascular responses to stress are caused by increased brain activation in areas associated with cardiovascular and
autonomic control. In extension, the candidate will test whether altering brain function via neuromodulation will regulate
downstream cardiovascular responses. Proposed are two independent studies. In Aim 1, we will newly examine the
relationship between metabolically excessive cardiovascular and neural responses using a cross-sectional approach. In
Aim 2, we will measure stressor-evoked metabolic and cardiovascular responses before and after neuromodulation in an
experimental approach. Participants will engage in a novel, non-invasive neuromodulation technique, transcranial infrared
laser stimulation (TILS), known to alter the brain by increasing oxygenation, and will be compared to an established
control. This research plan will help the candidate develop essential skills for career development including
cardiovascular and metabolic testing, machine learning and cross-validation methods for functional magnetic resonance
imaging analyses, and utilizing a neuromodulation technique, TILS. The proposed Mentored Research Scientist
Development Award will provide 5 years of training through a combination of research, classroom experiences, and
mentoring to further the candidate in preparation for scientific independence. Specifically, the candidate will gain
expertise in measuring metabolic activity, advance her computational neuroimaging analysis skills, become proficient in
experimentally manipulating brain function, and develop necessary statistical skills. The project brings together a
mentoring team of experts in their respective areas to provide the candidate with the necessary skills to continue on the
trajectory to make a transformative contribution to the field of Cardiovascular Behavioral Medicine. This project will
provide vital information regarding the pathways between psychological stress and CVD risk while at the same time
providing training and mentoring for the candidate’s further career.

## Key facts

- **NIH application ID:** 9986887
- **Project number:** 5K01HL145021-02
- **Recipient organization:** BAYLOR UNIVERSITY
- **Principal Investigator:** Annie T Ginty
- **Activity code:** K01 (R01, R21, SBIR, etc.)
- **Funding institute:** NIH
- **Fiscal year:** 2020
- **Award amount:** $152,186
- **Award type:** 5
- **Project period:** 2019-08-01 → 2024-07-31

## Primary source

NIH RePORTER: https://reporter.nih.gov/project-details/9986887

## Citation

> US National Institutes of Health, RePORTER application 9986887, Brain substrates for cardiovascular stress physiology (5K01HL145021-02). Retrieved via AI Analytics 2026-05-23 from https://api.ai-analytics.org/grant/nih/9986887. Licensed CC0.

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